Tears of Metal Heroes

Three Commanders at Early Access Launch

Tears of Metal launches into Early Access on July 22, 2026 with three fully playable heroes, each commanding a Scottish battalion across three Acts of roguelike campaigns. Paper Cult designed every commander around a distinct weapon identity and combat rhythm, so your hero choice shapes how you engage hordes, protect soldiers, and stack Emblem families during a run. Wallace offers the most approachable sword-and-board loop for newcomers, Ruadh Stonecrusher trades mobility for hammer impact and ally healing, and the third launch hero introduces a separate toolkit that rewards players who want a different risk profile after mastering Act 1.

Hero selection happens at the start of each campaign and cannot be changed mid-run, which makes understanding each commander's strengths essential before you commit. Your hero determines base attack strings, dodge timing, block behavior, and which equipment slots feel most impactful. Emblems, Charms, and village upgrades still apply to every hero, but certain families and artifacts skew toward specific playstyles. If you are planning a co-op session, coordinate hero picks so one player handles frontline control while another focuses on burst damage or support.

This hub links to individual hero guides with build recommendations, emblem priorities, and co-op tips. Start with Wallace if you want a balanced first clear, explore Ruadh Stonecrusher when you need a durable anchor for multiplayer, and read the third hero overview once you are ready to experiment beyond the demo roster. For deeper build theory, pair these pages with our builds hub and how to play guide.

Hero Progression Between Campaigns

Hero power in Tears of Metal comes from two layers: within-run Emblem and equipment choices, and between-run village meta progression. Weapons, trinkets, skins, and Charms persist across campaigns once unlocked, while Emblem tiers reset each run. Soldiers and companions you recruit also carry experience forward, but permadeath means a fallen ally is gone until you find a replacement. Choosing a hero that matches your village investments—such as a weapon you upgraded at the settlement forge—accelerates early Act clears.

Daily Challenges, shrine objectives, and special battlefield goals unlock cosmetics, additional equipment, and Charms that benefit specific heroes. Wallace players often prioritize versatile sword upgrades, while Ruadh benefits from trinkets that amplify healing pulses or hammer stagger. The third hero typically rewards players who invest in alternate weapon lines at village shops. Check settlement upgrades and equipment guide before starting a new campaign so you are not leaving permanent power on the table.

Hero Roles in Co-op

Online co-op supports up to four players, each controlling their own hero and battalion slice on large battlefields. Co-op does not require tight tactical coordination, but hero synergy still matters when elites, captains, or Act bosses enter the fight. A Ruadh player anchoring the center frees Wallace to flank with light attack chains, while the third hero can specialize in burst windows or objective control depending on their kit.

Healing scarcity makes Ruadh especially valuable in public co-op where players overcommit to aggression. Wallace provides consistent damage and readable telegraphs for newer allies. Mix emblem families across the party rather than duplicating the same clan—Caithness chain lightning and Orbs seekers cover different map shapes, and spreading Mark debuffs helps everyone's finishers. Read co-op multiplayer guide for session setup and battalion management to keep shared objectives from wiping your soldiers.

Which Hero Should You Play?

Pick Wallace for your first full Early Access campaign if you want forgiving blocks, straightforward combos, and strong generalist emblem scaling. Choose Ruadh when you expect difficult elite fights, co-op healing responsibility, or Act 2 hazard zones where staying power beats speed. Select the third hero when you have cleared Act 1 at least once and want a fresh moveset that encourages different emblem investments.

All three heroes can finish the full Early Access campaign solo. Difficulty comes from build execution and soldier preservation more than hero tier lists. Revisit this hub after patches—Paper Cult plans additional heroes during Early Access, and new commanders will appear here as they release.

• Wallace — Balanced sword commander; best first hero. See Wallace guide.
• Ruadh Stonecrusher — Hammer tank with ally healing; top co-op pick. See Ruadh guide.
• Third hero — Alternate launch playstyle; unlock via campaign progression. See third hero guide.